{"id":22190,"date":"2025-09-22T12:07:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T18:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emnrd.nm.gov\/sfd\/?page_id=22190"},"modified":"2026-01-15T13:16:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:16:40","slug":"post-wildfire-coordination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.emnrd.nm.gov\/sfd\/post-wildfire-coordination\/","title":{"rendered":"Post Wildfire Coordination"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”ce4db8ec-b34b-42ae-b247-103d0a13f28d” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”1d9c0f5d-35f2-480d-b415-624f9e38b5a0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#030303″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_dmb_breadcrumbs font_icon=”5||divi||400″ use_home_icon=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#030303″ body_font_size=”18px” link_text_color=”#030303″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_dmb_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” module_class_1=”sidebar” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” inner_width=”90%” inner_max_width=”1400px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Explore Section” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”14px” content_max_width=”100%” disabled_on=”off|off|on” admin_label=”Blurb” module_class=”blurb-icon-right sidebar-toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”c520cd6f-2a5a-44ab-ba51-0c6b314ff487″ header_font=”|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”13px” header_line_height=”1.3em” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”rgba(40,39,40,0.7)” body_font_size=”12px” body_line_height=”1.3em” background_color=”#1D4784″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”145deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#1d4784 0%|#0585a5 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#1d4784″ background_color_gradient_end=”#0585a5″ max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||14px||false|false” custom_padding=”12px|4px|12px|16px|true|false” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#dedede” icon_font_size=”14px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_3″ module_class=”sofia-light nav-side” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#212121″ body_font_size=”15px” body_line_height=”1em” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ specialty_columns=”3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Title” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Post Wildfire Coordination\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SSF Incident Summary” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

South Fork Fire \u2013 Watershed Stabilization Program<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Incident Summary\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

The South Fork and Salt Fires, sparked by lightning on June 17, 2025, burned 17,066 and 7,688 acres across the Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear Ranger District, the Mescalero Apache Reservation, and the Village of Ruidoso. The fires were 99% contained by July 15, 2024. About 1,400 structures were destroyed, with more than 150 additional losses caused by post\u2011fire flooding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access archived press releases here<\/a>, <\/span>and view the South Fork Fire burned area <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Presenting Issue<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Wildfires alter soil and vegetation, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. Burned areas reduce the land\u2019s ability to absorb rainfall\u2014fire\u2011hardened soil sheds water quickly, accelerating runoff and raising the likelihood of flash flooding and debris flows. These heightened risks remain until vegetation naturally recovers. <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Description: High Severity Fire” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]The South Fork Fire was a high-severity fire, meaning that the fire resulted in high tree mortality and damage to soils, limiting the land\u2019s ability to soak up rainwater. This damage led to flooding events such as those occurring in July and August 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.emnrd.nm.gov\/sfd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/flood_after_fire_infographic.png” title_text=”flood_after_fire_infographic” admin_label=”Image: Wildfire Effects” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image Caption: Wildfire Effects” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Image description: An illustration depicting wildfire effect on <\/span>flooding downslope. <\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/span>, <\/span>U.S. <\/span>Army Corps of Engineers<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title: SSF Program Overview” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#6E9E40″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

South Fork Fire Watershed Stabilization Program Overview<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SSF Program Overview” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department \u2013 Forestry Division is accepting requests from landowners affected by the Salt and South Fork Fires for post\u2011fire erosion control and hazardous tree mitigation. Contractors will assess each site and carry out approved work. The Forestry Division will have sole discretion to determine which post-fire practices<\/span><\/a> are appropriate for each property.<\/p>\n

Eligibility<\/h2>\n

Landowners requesting assistance will be evaluated for eligibility based on the following criteria:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Location<\/h3>\n

The property must be located in Lincoln County and within the boundaries of the <\/span>South Fork burned area.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Proof of Ownership and Right of Entry<\/h3>\n

Applicants will complete a\u00a0Right-of-Entry Agreement<\/a>\u00a0and provide legal proof of ownership which meets the\u00a0document validation guidelines<\/a><\/u>. Applications will not be accepted and approved for site assessment and project implementation until all documents are received and verified for legal acceptability.<\/p>\n

It is the sole responsibility of the landowner or their representative to provide evidence of property ownership. <\/span>Acceptable documents must list the current landowner and include the property address, legal description, and\/or UPC.<\/p>\n

Hazard Tree Criteria<\/h3>\n

Trees must be within twice their height of a road or structure and meet at least one of the following:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Leaning more than 30 degrees<\/li>\n
  • Over 75% canopy loss (ponderosa pines) or over 50% loss (other species)<\/li>\n
  • Split trunk exposing heartwood<\/li>\n
  • 40% or more exposed roots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Priority Areas” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

    Priority Areas<\/h2>\n

    Properties will be prioritized for assistance to maximize long-term watershed recovery, focusing on areas with the greatest risk of erosion that may contribute to debris flows and impact downstream communities. Prioritization will be based on:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Proximity to other participating landowners<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Location within the watershed, with higher-elevation areas prioritized<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Burn severity, with higher-severity areas prioritized<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Terrain, with steeper slopes prioritized<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Priority Map Explained” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

      The following map outlines priority treatment areas. Lighter areas represent high-priority treatment areas, darker areas represent lower-priority areas. Landowners who fall outside of these treatment areas should expect significant delays before the Division will be able to treat their properties.<\/p>\n

      This map will be updated quarterly to reflect progress in planning and implementation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Code: Priority Areas” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]